Player Profile: Johannes Kropf
So last week I mentioned that my wife and I discovered indoor rock climbing and the many benefits and parallels that this sport and disc golf share. In that same week, I saw a viral video from DGPT showing a man throwing discs from what appears to be a specialized wheel chair that allows him to traverse a disc golf course. I was immediately intrigued, and I thought his story was one that needed to be shared with more people, so I reached out to get the details on his amazing journey into our sport, and how it also relates to climbing.
Johannes Kropf is a Berlin born native who still resides in Germany. His journey to disc golf began over ten years ago, “When I first noticed disc golf but was very active in the climbing community but never got around to trying it out”, Johannes recalls. “I forgot about it until three years ago when I stumbled over a TikTok of somebody playing. Shortly after that, I picked up my first starter set and never looked back.”
In a twist of fate, Johannes experienced a serious climbing accident that left him in a wheelchair full time. Facing such a tragic life event would break the spirit of even the most passionate of us, but it didn’t stop him. “I have always been a very active person”, Johannes says. “In addition to the climbing, I also had a very physical job as an arborist before my accident. After my accident I especially felt the need to stay fit in a functional way as I felt this was a good way to improve my quality of life as a wheelchair user. I also find workouts very good for getting my head free and sorting through my thoughts.” His focus has recently changed to exercises that are helping him to improve in disc golf. He says, “I mostly focus on implements like kettlebell, steel mace, some calisthenics and battle ropes which give a good combination of strength, mobility, and core stability. Over the last year I also started doing some explosive medicine ball exercises and elastic band exercises which are targeted at movements that simulate throwing. Just check out any of his Instagram videos to see for yourself.
Even with all this passion and determination, Johannes still faces challenges on the course. “Most of my challenges on the course comes from the terrain. As a wheelchair user, things like stairs or slopes bigger than 15% can be an insurmountable obstacle. Some of those could be easily avoided by increasing the awareness of course designers for adaptive players. This could be as simple as building ground level tee pads or providing an alternative path for steeper sections. I'm fully aware that this won't be an option for every course, but I think it would benefit everyone in the long run as a wheelchair friendly course will also be great for families, older players, or cart users. Often the accessibility can be greatly improved with small changes but the awareness for this is missing,” Johannes says. As courses continue to be built at a rapid pace, designers would be smart to start thinking about including features like this on courses, especially when these venues are on public lands or parks. We always speak about how this sport is one of the most inclusive, and by building with accessibility in mind can help further that philosophy.
And yet Johannes can get out and play year-round with the temperate climate in Berlin. And he has really honed his craft, throwing most discs farther than many of us. Johannes says, “I found that I can effectively throw everything up to fairway speed from my seated position and with my arm speed. The discs I get my furthest throws with Sidewinders, Falks, Pekapekas, Insanities and Hatchets. They are all understable 9 speeds which seems to be the sweet spot for me distance wise.” There’s a famous disc golfer, you may have heard of him, Simon Lizotte, that says you don’t really need anything more than a fairway driver to play well, and in this case, that is certainly true.
Regarding sponsorship, Johannes currently has no offers, but says, “Should anybody be interested, I’m happy for them to contact me.” It seems like a no-brainer that a company would want to get this guy on their team.
Disc golf has become Johannes’ only sport, but he still has many other hobbies. “I do enjoy making things; I do everything from sewing and woodwork to 3D printing when I have free time and I’m not on the disc golf course”, he says. “This also includes making things I use while golfing like a putter bag or a DIY basket I made with 3D printed parts for practice putting at home.”
Johannes is a true inspiration for disc golf, and when I asked him about words of wisdom for others with disabilities, he says, “Do it! It may seem daunting at first but it's a great sport and a good way to get out into nature as a wheelchair user. Take some friends and a starter pack to a field for a start and try a round with throwing techniques. Then take it step by step from there. Disc golf has such great potential as a truly inclusive sport for everyone. Let's work together to realize that potential. I think it's worth it.”
In closing, let’s take Johannes’ incredible journey of finding passion from tragedy as a reminder in our own lives that we can all do better and overcome any obstacles we find in our way. And let’s remember that disc golf IS for everybody, and let’s work towards that goal within our local communities. I think I said it in one of my very first blogs, but disc golf can save the planet, and I still believe that today.
